Characterization news, September 2020

Sharp corners make aluminum nanoparticles more catalytic

Researchers have found that aluminum nanoparticles with sharper corners are better able to utilize light to catalyze chemical reactions.

Tiny nanoparticles expose their catalytic abilities

Researchers have confirmed that tiny sub-nanoparticles created via the atom hybridization method can make highly efficient catalysts.

Relationship between electricity and magnetism takes new direction

Researchers have discovered that a small change in the direction of the magnetic field in a symmetrical crystal can alter its electrical polarization.

Blurry electron beams struggle to bring 2D crystals into focus

Small imperfections in the lenses used to focus electron microscope beams can lead to the crystal phases in 2D materials being misidentified.

Editor in Spotlight – Prof. Vitalij Pecharsky, Journal of Alloys and Compounds

Boundaries no barrier for thermoelectrical materials

A novel optical detection system may have shown that grain boundaries are no barrier for thermoelectrical materials, but they still can't take the strain.

Topological insulator brings exotic magnetism to the surface

Researchers have confirmed that the intrinsic magnetism in the bulk of a topological insulator can extend to the electrons at its surface.

Composites Part C: Open Access – new journal explores innovations across composite material science

Floppy vibrations make for efficient thermoelectric materials

Researchers have uncovered the atomic mechanism that makes tin-based thermoelectric materials incredibly efficient at high temperatures.

Researchers get to know battery particle inside and out

Researchers found that cracking on the surface of an electrode particle corresponded with areas of microscopic cracking deep inside the particle.

New open access journal brings latest developments in carbon materials science to a wide audience

Springing into action with elliptical holes

Adding elliptical holes to elastic materials can enhance their efficiency at converting elastic energy to kinetic energy for extreme velocity movements.

Lead-free material leads to low-cost, flexible X-ray detector

A material known as organic manganese halide can make an environmentally friendly, low-cost, flexible X-ray scintillator.

Just add rocksalt for a safe, powerful battery anode

Disordered rocksalt made of lithium, vanadium and oxygen makes a safe, powerful. long-lasting anode material for lithium-ion batteries.

New study detects quantum singularity in cuprate superconductor

By probing the electronic behavior of a superconducting cuprate, researchers have uncovered evidence for quantum critical points.

New findings flow from study on soft materials

For the first time, researchers have developed a way to measure the individual solid-like and liquid-like behaviors of soft materials separately.

Novel approach to tracking ions could improve energy storage

By combining computational modeling with experimental data, researchers have developed a novel approach for tracking ions within a 2D material.

‘Time crystals’ interact within superfluid helium

For the first time, scientists created two 'time crystals' in superfluid helium-3, and observed them interacting and exchanging constituent particles.

Latest carbon nanotube fibers are strongest and most conductive yet

Using a wet spinning process, researchers have produced carbon nanotube fibers that are stronger than Kevlar and almost as conductive as copper.

Nanoparticle coating discovery packs powerful punch

Researchers have discovered that the clubs used by mantis shrimp have a uniquely designed nanoparticle coating that absorbs and dissipates energy.